Modular safe deposit box assembly

ABSTRACT

A modular metal cabinet structure having a plurality of individual compartments which are vertically stacked and horizontally sequenced. These compartments are defined by horizontal plate shelves and vertical partitions together with outer side and back wall plates and have frontal openings closed by hollow hinged doors carrying locks on their internal faces. The horizontal shelves are provided with a plurality of pairs of elongated slots which are aligned with alternate and complementary tongues and notches along the top and bottom edges of the adjacent vertical partitions, to form an easily erectable framework. Each door and hinge assembly cooperates with jambs or stops affixed to the inner surfaces of each vertical partition adjacent the frontal opening of its compartment to safeguard forcing-in or prying-out the door when it is in its closed and locked position. Furthermore the pivot pins of each door hinge are in blind holes, the open ends of which holes are at least partially concealed by adjacent structures.

[ Sept. 24, 1974 MODULAR SAFE DEPOSIT BOX ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Ralph E. McClellan, Toledo, Ohio [73] Assignee: Meilink Steel Safe Company,

Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,315

[5 7] ABSTRACT A modular metal cabinet structure having a plurality of individual compartments which are vertically stacked and horizontally sequenced. These compartments are defined by horizontal plate shelves and vertical partitions together with outer side and back wall plates and have frontal openings closed by hollow hinged doors carrying locks on their internal faces. The horizontal shelves are provided with a plurality of :J-S-(glpairs of elongated Slots are te d 47 5' nate and complementary tongues and notches along can: 31201 1 the top and bottom edges of the adjacent vertical partitions, to form an easily erectable framework. Each door and hinge assembly cooperates with jambs or [56] References Clted stops affixed to the inner surfaces of each vertical par- UNITED STATES PATENTS tition adjacent the frontal opening of its compartment 361,408 4/1887 Gross 109/56 to safeguard forcing-in or prying-out the door when it 423,095 1890 e et al i /5 is in its closed and locked position. Furthermore the Klll'le v i X pivot pins of each door hinge are in holes the 1,491,786 4/1924 Bruckshaw et al. 109/56 Open ds f which holes are at least partially conl,704,645 3/1929 Ames 109/47 cealed by adjacent structures Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor 9 Claims, Drawing Figures Ii 0 ii &

SHEET t 0? 5 FIG. 7

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. l MODULAR SAFE DEPOSIT BOX ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to structures wherein a plurality-of separate storage compartments or receptacles are combined in a single unit which compartments constitute separate safes for protection of their contents. An example of this type of safe deposit box is shown in US. Pat. No. 423,095, issued to Teal et al. on Mar. 1 1, 1890 which discloses a series of horizontal shelves and vertical partitions forming a plurality of individual open ended compartments each closed by a lockable hinged door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, a multi-compartment rectangular cabinet or safe deposit box assembly according to this invention comprises a series of horizontal plates or shelves alternately stacked on a series of horizontally sequenced vertical plates or partitions to form a honeycomb framework of compartments. This framework is enclosed by side and back walls with the lowermost horizontal plate constituting the bottom wall and the uppermost horizontal plate constituting the top wall of a modular safe deposit box unit or assemlby. The frontal openings of each compartment are closed by recessed hollow doors hinged to the free front edges of the vertical partitions. The top, bottom and side walls of each unit may have framing strips along their front and back edges. Alternate erecting tongues or lugs and notches at the ends of the top and bottom edges of each vertical partition pass through complementary slots in their adjacent horizontal plates so that they can be simply stacked and sequenced together without the use of further keying or fastening means. Also the weight of each layer tends to secure this framework assembly in an erected relationship.

A modular box assembly having various even multiple size compartments in different layers can be easily erected by controlling the horizontal spacing of the slots in the horizontal shelves and the heights of the vertical partitions. Thus once the number of compartments and their respective sizes have been determined, it is only necessary to assemble the corresponding horizontal shelves and vertical partitions and w eld them together to form a unitaryframework.

The hollow door is made from two plate like parts, at least one having flanges around its periphery, the edges of which parts are disposed in nested or abutting relationship with each other, welded at their junctures and ground at the welds to form smooth seams.

The concealed hinge may comprise either two or three leaves, one of the leaves, generally L-shaped is attached to the inner surface of the door and is provided with a flange which cooperates with a portion of a second or center leaf. The second leaf, generally U- shaped in horizontal cross-section, is fitted over and attached to the forward edge of a vertical partition. When it is desired to swing a door in a direction opposite to a door attached to the first leaf, the hinge assembly is provided with a third leaf similarly shaped to the first leaf but in a reversed position.

To safeguard against the forcing-in or prying-out of a door when it is in its closed and locked position, he door is recessed in the compartment opening and a lock jamb is affixed to the inner surface of a vertical partition in a position to cooperate with a lock mechanism mounted on the inner face of the door, which jamb prevents swinging movement of the door in either direction. To prevent movement of the door at its hinged end if the hinge pivot can be removed, there is also provided a jamb affixed to the inner surface of the vertical partition which cooperates with one side of a flange on the hinge leaf affixed to the door while the other side of this flange abuts the inner end of the stationary U-shaped hinge leaf. To prevent tampering with or removal of the hinged pivot pins, the free ends of the vertical partitions are spaced inwardly from the free edges of the horizontal shelves so that the pivot pins of a hinge attached to the partition are at least partially concealed by their respective horizontal shelves. Also the pivot pins are seated in blind holes so that they cannot be pushed out.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES An object of this invention is to provide a simple, efficient, effective, economic, rugged, and dependable safe deposit box assembly from essentially two series of like parts interlocked together with integral means to form a plurality of individual boxes.

Another object is to provide such a structure that can be easily assembled in many different size compartments from a minimum number of like parts which may be stamped from flat sheets of material.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a safe deposit box assembly with concealed hinges on its doors which will cooperate with other means to prevent the doors from being pushed-in or pried-out of their compartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong economic and durable light weight door fabricated from sheet material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS The above mentioned and other features, objects and advantages, and a manner of attaining them are described more specifically below by reference to embodiments of this invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safe deposit assembly of an embodiment of this invention having a plurality of like size individual compartments;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembly similar to FIG. 1 but showing a plurality of different size compartments;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the safe deposit box assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the safe deposit box assembly shown in FIG. 3 but with the upper horizontal plate removed;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 in FIG. 4 showing the integral interlocking arrangement of the horizontal shelves and vertical partitions;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the erecting and interlocking arrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one of the horizontal shelves as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a stamped blank of the front part of one embodiment of a door showing its edge flanges flat in full lines and bent into position in dotted lines, and the two holes for the key mechanisms of the lock assembly;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a back part of another door embodiment of a door similar to that shown in FIG. 8, but having drawn flanges and showing holes for the lock and hinge attachments;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a door assembly constructed from the parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a back plan view of another embodiment with telescopic or nesting edge flanges formed by deep drawing;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12 12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 13 13 of FIG. 3 showing a door, hinge and lock arrangement according to this invention,

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of a two leaf off-set hinge assembly; and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view of a three leaf off-set hinge assembly for both right and left hand doors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT GENERAL DESCRIPTION As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a multicompartment rectangular cabinet of a modular safe deposit box assembly or 20' according to this invention, generally comprises a series of vertically stackable horizontal plates or shelves 22 and a series of horizontally sequenced vertical partition plates 30 between each shelf 22 to form a framework of compartments. FIG. 2 shows arrangement of how different sized compartments may be arranged in a unit 20'. These frameworks are enclosed by sidewalls 21 and 21, and back wall while horizontal plates 22 constitute the top and bottom walls of these box assemblies 20 and 20'. The frontal openings of each compartment are closable by doors 50, 50' 50" or 50" swingable on either hinge assemblies 60 or 80, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The periphery at each end of the box assembly 20 or i 20' may be surrounded by top and bottom straps 27 and side straps 29 for strengthening the ends of the box assembly 20 and 20', while the straps 27 also cover slots 23, 23, 24, 24 in the top and bottom horizontal plates 22.

THE MODULAR FRAMEWORK As best shown in FIG. 7 each horizontal shelf 22 is provied with a plurality of pairs of aligned elongated front slots 23, 23' and rear slots 24, 24 disposed perpendicularly to the front and rear edges 26 and 28, respectively, thereof, and with the front slots 23, 23' spaced from the front edge 26 further than the rear slots 24, 24' are spaced from the rear edge 28. The spacing of these slots position a vertical partition 30 so that its front edge 32 is spaced inwardly from the front edge 26 of the horizontal shelf 22 and its rear edge 34 is flush with the rear edge 28 of the shelf 22, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

Each horizontal edge 36 and 38 of each vertical partition 30 is provided with two outwardly extending tongues or lugs 42, 44 and 46, 48 respectively, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the spacing of the lugs 42 and 44 corresponds with the spacing of the elongated slots 23 and 24 and the spacing of the lugs 46 and 48 corresponds with. the spacing of the elongated slots 23' and 24'. However, it can be seen in FIG. 5 that the vertical partition plates 30 can be assembled with the horizontal shelfs 22 so that the lugs 46 and 48 corresponds with the elongated slots 23 and 24 while the lugs 42 and 44 corresponds with the elongated slots 23' and 24.

To insure that a framework of shelves 22 and partitions 30 are easily assembled together, the slots 23, 23' and 24, 24 are just slightly larger in size than the crosssectional area of the lugs 42, 44, 46 and 48 to provide for errors in spacing of the slots and lugs due to the stamping operations and to allow for expansion and contraction.

To prevent collapse of the framework during its assembly the lugs 42, 44, 46 and 48 of the partition plates 30 pass through and extend beyond the shelves 22.

Thus, the horizontal edges 36 and 38 of the vertical partitions 30 are provided with notches 43, 45, and 47, 49 respectively. The notches 43 and 45 correspond with the spacing of the slots 23' and 24 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) and the spacing of the notches 47 and 49 corresponds with the slots 23 and 24. Thus the lugs 42, 44, 46 and 48 pass through their adjacent slots in the horizontal shelf 22 and extend into the cooperating notches in the next adjacent vertical partition 30 (see FIG. 6). In this manner the partitions 30 are held in a substantially vertical position since the sides of the lugs contact the sides of the slots throughout the thickness of the shelves 22. Once a desired number of shelves and partitions are assembled together, they are tack welded at appropriate intervals along the edges 36 and 38 of the partitions to the shelves 22 to form a unitary compartmentized honeycomb framework.

By standardizing the sizes of the horizontal plates 22 and the vertical partitions 30 and the spacing of the slots and lugs a minimum number of parts are required. Also by selecting the spacing between adjacent rows of slots relative to the height of the vertical partitions, compartments of different sizes can be made in one framework as shown in FIG. 2.

In assembling this framework a horizontal plate 22 constituting the bottom wall is first laid in any suitable right angled forming jig to insure squareness of the modular structure. Next the appropriate number of vertical partitions are positioned on this plate 22, each having their lugs extending into their corresponding cooperating slot. Since the lugs on the top and the bottom edges of the partitions are symetrically spaced they can be assembled in either of two positions thus making assembly easier. Then another plate 22 is positioned on the vertical partitions 30 and etc. until a framework having the desired number of compartments is built. This unit is then welded togeher to form a unitized structre 20 or 20'.

THE DOOR STRUCTURE Referring to FIGS. 8 through 12 each hollow door 50 (or doors 50', 50", and 50" in FIG. 2) consists of two parts or sections made by either stamping or drawing a section from a flat sheet of metal, preferably stainless steel, and welding them together.

The door shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 may be made by combining two similar stamped sections 52. These sections have bent margins to form flanges 54 along fold lines 56 (see FIG. 8) which flanges have widths that span a distance equal to half the total thickness of the door 50. Before the flanges 54 are formed, square notches 55 for the corners are stamped out at the margins of the sheet metal, prior to bending. As shown in FIG. 10 two of these sections 52 are positioned together and the outer edges of their flanges 54 are butt welded together along their entire length, and then the weld bead is ground flush with the outer surface of the flanges 54 to form a unitary hollow door 50. i

Instead of makingthese door sections from stampings, they may be made by shallow drawing a section 52' (see FIG. 9) from a sheet material, forming a flange 54 and the assembling as described above for the sections 52.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 a door 50 also can be made from two sections wherein the flanges 54" and 54" are formed by deep drawing them from a sheet material. However, in this case one section 54" is slightly smaller than the other section 52" so that its flanges 54" nest within the flanges 54" in this other section 52". These sections are then welded together at their outer overlapping edges, and the weld seam is ground flush with its adjacent surface.

THE HINGE ASSEMBLIES In a safe deposit box assembly or 20 it is desirable that the door 50, 50', 50", or 50" in each compartment fits flush and within the frontal opening thereof so that all danger of forcing the door inwardly or prying it outwardly of the compartment may be guarded against.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, an offset hinge 60 or 80 is provided which can be fixedly mounted on the front vertical edge 32 of the vertical partitions with its mounting means total concealed, and with'its pivot at least partially concealed by the shelves 22 because of the set back of the partition front edge 32 relative to the front edge 26 of each shelf 22 as previously described.

The hinge 60 includes a pair of leaves 62 and 72 which are rotatably joined to each other by two pivot or roll pins 70 and 70 as shown in FIG. 14, hinge leaf 62 includes two spaced barrel portions 64 and 64 which are interleaved with a barrel portion 74 on the leaf 72 and the pivot pins 70 and 70' pass through the barrel portions 64 and 64' into blind seats 75 and 75, respectively, in the barrel 74.

The hinge leaf 62 includes a generally rectangular and planar rearward portion 65 and a forward portion 66 which is generally L-shaped in horizontal crosssection. The rearward portion 65 extends along the inner side of the door 50 and is held thereto by screws 51. The L-shaped forward portion 66 includes an intermediate portion 67 which extends perpendicularly from the rearward portion 65 across an edge of the door 50 and a front or outer portion 68 which extend parallel with the rearward portion and supports the barrel portions 64 and 64'. A locking flange 69 extends from the rearward portion 65 parallel to and the front portion 68 bracketing the adjacent leg of the other hinge leaf 72.

The other hinge leaf 72 is attached to the vertical partition 30 by a bifurcated or U-shaped cross-section portion 76 with the front or base of the U" having the barrel portion 74. This bifurcated portion 76 is provided with three countersunk holes 77 for mounting screws 78 for attachment to the end 32 of the vertical partiton 30. As best shown in FIG. 13 the locking flange 69 of the L-shaped leaf 62 overlies the inner end of one of the legs of the bifurcated leaf 72. This flange 69 then prevents the L-shaped leaf 62 and its attached door 50 from being pried out in the'event the roll or pivot pins 70 and 70' are removed. To prevent the hinged end of the door 50 from being forced inwardly in event the roll pins 70 and 70 are removed, a door jamb 53 is attached to the side of the vertical partiton 30 at a distance from the end of the leg of the bifurcated leaf 72 to abut the other side of the fange 69 of the L-shaped leaf 62.

To provide for the hanging of both a right and left hand door on a partition, a hinge 80 (see FIGS. 13 and 15) is provided, with a third leaf 82 which is similarly shaped to the L-shaped hinge leaf 62 of the hinge 60 and which cooperates in a like manner with the leaf 72 and a door jamb 53.

LOCKING MECHANISM Upon the inner face of each door 50 is mounted a conventional lock mechanism 84 held by screws 86 (see FIG. 13). This lock mechanism 84 is of the type in which there is an arbor 88 for a depositors key and an arbor 90 for a master key. These arbors are journalled in suitable holes or seats 89 and 91 respectively in the door 50.

Adjacent the lock mechanism 84 and mounted on the vertical partition 30 is a lock jamb 58 having a socket 59 for receiving the outer end of a locking bolt 92. This jamb 58 may be affixed to the partition by welding. The contacting face of the door 50 against the jamb 58 will prevent this end of the door 50 from being forced inwardly and the bolt 92 in the socket 59 will prevent the door 50 from being pried outwardly.

While there is described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of this invention.

.I claim:

1. A multi-compartment rectangular cabinet in which each compartment has an open end closed by a lockable hinged door, said cabinet comprising:

A. a plurality of horizontal plates having aligned pairs of separate apertures near the ends of spaced parallel lines perpendicular to an edge of said plate;

B. a plurality of vertical partitions independent of each other and having alternate lugs and notches near the ends of their top and bottom edges for fitting into said apertures in said plates, and the front edge of said partitions'are spaced inwardly from the front edge of said horizontal plates;

C. hinge means attached to said front edges of said partitions having their pivots in the plane of said partitions so that said plates overlap at least a part of said pivots, each hinge means having one leaf bifurcated to receive the end of said partitions and the other leaf having portions to attach to said doors and to lock behind said one leaf; and

doors thicker than said partitions attached to said other leaves of said hinges.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said notches are aligned with one of the slots of each pair of slots on said horizontal plates for receiving the outer end of the lugs of the adjacent partitions.

3. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said other leaf has I. a first portion lying against an edge of said door;

2. a second portion extending from one side of said first portion and lying against the inside of said door; and

7. A cabinet according to claim 3 including door jambs adjacent said third portion of said other leaves of said hinges for preventing inward movement of said doors.

8. A cabinet according to claim 1 including locking bolts on said doors, and jambs affixed to said vertical partitions and having sockets cooperating with said bolts.

9. A cabinet according to claim 1 including a third leaf like said other leaf.

'zgigg UNITED Y STATES PATENT CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 7 Patent No. 3,837,299 Dated September 24, 1974 In'ventot( Ralph E. McClellan It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

| Co1umn 1, line 65 change "he" t0 the Colurnn 3, line 47 change "provied" to provided Column 5, line 50 change "extend" to extends Column 6, line 56 insert before "doors" D.

Signed and sealed this 7thday of January 1975.

( s EAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN [attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent 

1. A multi-compartment rectangular cabinet in which each compartment has an open end closed by a lockable hinged door, said cabinet comprising: A. a plurality of horizontal plates having aligned pairs of separate apertures near the ends of spaced parallel lines perpendicular to an edge of said plate; B. a plurality of vertical partitions independent of each other and having alternate lugs and notches near the ends of their top and bottom edges for fitting into said apertures in said plates, and the front edge of said partitions are spaced inwardly from the front edge of said horizontal plates; C. hinge means attached to said front edges of said partitions having their pivots in the plane of said partitions so that said plates overlap at least a part of said pivots, each hinge means having one leaf bifurcated to receive the end of said partitions and the other leaf having portions to attach to said doors and to lock behind said one leaf; and doors thicker than said partitions attached to said other leaves of said hinges.
 2. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said notches are aligned with one of the slots of each pair of slots on said horizontal plates for receiving the outer end of the lugs of the adjacent partitions.
 2. a second portion extending from one side of said first portion and lying against the inside of said door; and
 3. a third portion extending from the other side of said first portion to overlie the inner edge of the adjacent bifurcated portion of said one leaf.
 3. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said other leaf has
 4. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said doors are recessed between said horizontal shelves.
 5. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein each hinge includes a pair of spaced pivot pins rotatably joining said hinge leaves.
 6. A cabinet according to claim 5 wherein said pivot pins are contained in blind seats in one of the hinge leafs.
 7. A cabinet according to claim 3 including door jambs adjacent said third portion of said other leaves of said hinges for preventing inward movement of said doors.
 8. A cabinet according to claim 1 including locking bolts on said doors, and jambs affixed to said vertical partitions and having sockets cooperating with said bolts.
 9. A cabinet according to claim 1 including a third leaf like said other leaf. 